Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

The World Bank is forecasting strong gains for industrial commodities such as energy and metals in 2017, due to tightening supply and strengthening demand.

On January 23, 2017 the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Niger for an amount equivalent to SDR 98.7 million (about US$134.04 million, or 75 percent of Niger’s quota) in support of the authorities’ national plan for economic development.

Ceta, the EU-Canada trade deal, was approved by the international trade committee on 24 January. The agreement, which would remove tariffs on most traded goods and services, will be put to a final vote by all MEPs next month. Speaking in a Facebook Live interview, Artis Pabriks, the MEP responsible for steering the deal through Parliament, said: “The prime motivation is to ensure more wealth from trade. Ceta is a really good example of how good trade deals should be made.”

trade agreements in our infographic

Uzbekistan has succeeded in growing its economy over the past decade, lifting many people out of poverty and improving the lives of its citizens, says World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller.

Indonesia’s reforms to fiscal policy and the investment climate are expected to boost the economy—projected to grow at 5.3 percent in 2017—according to a new World Bank report released on January 17.

Comprehensive reforms to Portugal’s labour market between 2011 and 2015 have helped create jobs and reduce the country’s high unemployment rate but important challenges remain, according to a new OECD report.

All workers should have their basic rights guaranteed, whatever their form of employment and contract, said MEPs approving their recommendations on Thursday for the forthcoming proposal on the “European Pillar of Social Rights”.

The World Bank Board of Directors on January 17, approved two loans totaling US$ 100 million to improve the transparency and efficiency of the tax administration in Guatemala and to improve urban infrastructure and prevent violence in the Gran Ciudad del Sur Commonwealth in the south.